zany
/ˈzeɪni/ adjective, noun, verb
Forms zanier zaniest zanies zanying zanied
- adjective Unusual and awkward in a funny, comical manner; outlandish; clownish.
- adjective Ludicrously or incongruously comical.
- noun (archaic) A fool or clown, especially one whose business on the stage is to imitate foolishly the actions of the principal clown.
- verb (obsolete) To mimic foolishly.
Synonyms
wacky fathead goof goofball bozo jackass goose cuckoo twat cockamamie cockamamy goofy sappy silly whacky buffoonish clownish clownlike
Etymology
From Middle French zani, zanni, from Italian zanni (“a kind of masked clown character”), from Zanni, a Venetian form of Giovanni. Doublet of Zanni, John, and Giovanni.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [It. zanni a buffoon, merry-andrew, orig. same as Giovanni John, i. e., merry John, L. Ioannes, Gr. Yokhanan, prop., the Lord graciously gave: cf. F. zani, fr. the Italian. Cf. Jenneting.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “zany”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details